The Efficacy of the Development Studies Programme in Zimbabwe’s Development Work

IF 0.2 Q4 AREA STUDIES

Africa Review Pub Date : 2024-01-16 DOI:10.1163/09744061-bja10044

T. Muzorewa, Ramphal Sillah, Tawanda William Chibanda

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Abstract

The article analyses the impact of the development studies (DS) programme at Zimbabwean higher education institutions on development work in Zimbabwe. It describes how development studies became one of the most popular subjects in the humanities, offered by more than 10 universities and colleges in Zimbabwe. More than two decades later, there is convincing evidence that the programme’s influence on the development sector in Zimbabwe is diminishing. The article contends that the programme has been essential in sparking policy debates and incubating development theory among students and academics. However, the discipline has provided little in terms of actual practice and expertise in development work and community implementation. Therefore, development studies in Zimbabwe is an academic discipline with limited relevance to community development on the ground. This research is qualitative in nature. Qualitative data collected using purposive sampling is used to illustrate the rise of the discipline and its disparate effects on development activities in Zimbabwe. The article recommends a revision of the DS curriculum so that it fits the practical requirements for development work in Zimbabwe.

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发展研究计划在津巴布韦发展工作中的功效

文章分析了津巴布韦高等教育机构的发展研究（DS）课程对津巴布韦发展工作的影响。文章描述了发展研究如何成为人文学科中最受欢迎的学科之一，并在津巴布韦的十多所大学和学院中开设。二十多年后，有令人信服的证据表明，该课程对津巴布韦发展部门的影响正在减弱。文章认为，该课程对于在学生和学者中引发政策辩论和培养发展理论至关重要。然而，该学科在发展工作和社区实施方面提供的实际做法和专业知识却很少。因此，津巴布韦的发展研究是一门学术学科，与当地的社区发展关系不大。本研究属于定性研究。通过有目的的抽样收集的定性数据用于说明该学科的兴起及其对津巴布韦发展活动的不同影响。文章建议修订社会学课程，使其符合津巴布韦发展工作的实际要求。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Africa Review AREA STUDIES-

CiteScore

1.80

自引率

12.50%

发文量

期刊介绍： Africa Review is an interdisciplinary academic journal of the African Studies Association of India (ASA India) and focuses on theoretical, historical, literary and developmental enquiries related to African affairs. The central aim of the journal is to promote a scholarly understanding of developments and change in Africa, publishing both original scholarship on developments in individual countries as well as comparative analyses examining the wider region. The journal serves the full spectrum of social science disciplinary communities, including anthropology, archaeology, history, law, sociology, demography, development studies, economics, education, gender studies, industrial relations, literature, politics and urban studies.